FrankStylV7

....is signed so far below his market value (compare his contract to Zambrano, Carlos and, especially Zito, Barry) that he'd surely declare for free agency after his first year with the team that receives him in trade (a player traded in the middle of a longterm contract has the right to demand a trade or renegotiate after year #1).

Anyone thinking that trading for him is more advantageous than trading for Johan Santana is not taking this rule into consideration.

Besides, why in hell would the Astros trade one of about 5 MLB legitimate #1 starters who costs so little?

Long and short - cut out the stupid "let's get Oswalt" scenarios, "he's longterm and cheap!!!!"

Dumbassess......

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"The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum." -

Havelock Ellis

Rey-YES

You're close. He can demand a trade, and if he does the team must trade him or he becomes a FA. But once traded, he loses that right. And he has no veto power over who he's traded to. A team like Pittsburgh would love to have him, but I doubt he'd prefer that to a possible Ring.

I agree that the Astros probably won't trade him, though it doesn't hurt to ask. But IF the Mets traded for him,

1) They'd be foolish not to be prepared to re-negotiate if necessary.
2) At his salary, they could easily get equal value in return if he actually demanded a trade.
3) They could still go after Santana as a FA.

Slim as the chance might be, he's worth a try.
3)

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TPFKABM

Matt

What the hell are you talking about? Frank said he could demand a trade - you come back and say he's "close," and then say exactly what Frank said with some caveat about the next team he's traded to or signs with in free agency...why the hell would we give a **** about the next team?

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Outfield

Piney Woods

The point is that teams don't trade players with favorable (for the team) contracts - particularly top shelf pitchers who just turned 30.
No one who has ever had that right to demand or trade or go FA has ever followed it through until the end because the reason most were dealt in the first place is that they were OVER-paid and don't want to risk what deal may replace it.

The problem is that the whole WFAN crew - led by Francesa - still talks about Oswalt as if he's liable to be traded at any moment based on nothing more than that year-and-a-half old Baltimore story which was:
a) before Houston signed Oswalt to a long-term extension
and
b) never really true to begin with.

Meanwhile, fans hear that yapping and start making up making up silly mock deals which they'll then probably blame Omar for not getting done.

Rey-YES

Why not read the whole thing, Matt? Frank said "demand trade or re-negotiate". He left out the FA part, so he was close. The player does not have the right to demand re-negotiation. He can request it, but the only thing he can demand is a trade. And if he does, the team must trade him or set him free.

And I don't give a damn about the "next team". It's only relevant because if he demands a trade and gets one, he has no choice of where he'd go and loses the right to negotiate or demand a trade. The thought of going to a place he won't like, AND losing his re-negotiation right is something that would affect his decision.

And I said nothing about any team he'd sign with as a FA. I said the Mets could still sign Santana as a FA.

Other than all of the above, you're "close".

I don't remember any player who actually has demanded a trade or became a FA as a result of that rule, though there may have been one or two.

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TPFKABM

15 Day DL Alou

You can't deal for 28 year old lefthanders who win multiple CY Young awards in the American league that are going to be free agents. DO NOT FORGET, they are not NL PROVEN.

Oswalt on the other hand, there are no pitfalls. Frank should be killed for making it rain in Medford.

The world is perfect. Lets go toss a game of pooh-sticks.

Hojo of 1991

LOL, pooh-sticks. Never thought I'd read that here...

15 Day DL Alou

Well, it is earthquake weather.